Report calls for US to prioritise health resources towards diagnosing and diseases like cardiovascular disease

1st December 2017

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A report—modified from US global health recommendations from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (previously the Institute of Medicine) and published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology—states that the USA must prioritise its health resources toward detecting and treating non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease.

It also says that the tools for the prevention and eradication of infectious diseases on a global scale should be maintained and expanded.

A press release says that the Committee on Global Health and the Future of the United States was tasked with identifying current global health priorities and making recommendations to the US government and other stakeholders to increase responsiveness, coordination and efficiency in addressing global health needs. They developed recommendations that, according to the paper ,“would deliver a strong global health strategy and maintain the role of the United States as a leader in global health.”

The committee first outlined four priority areas for action:

Achieving global security

Maintaining a sustained response to the continuous threats of communicable diseases

Saving and improving the lives of women and children

Promoting cardiovascular health and preventing cancer.

Report author Valentin Fuster (Mt Sinai Medical Center, New York, USA), says: “These NASEM recommendations and this manuscript are among the most important efforts of my career, because if they are adopted by the US government, they have the potential to enact true change for global health. The next step for the committee is to present these recommendations to the US Senate and to President Donald J Trump.”

Three cross-cutting areas were further developed to maximise the returns on investment, achieve better health outcomes and use funding more effectively:

Catalyse innovation through accelerated development of medical products and integrated digital health infrastructure,

Employ more nimble and flexible financing mechanisms to leverage new partners and funders in global health

Maintain US status and influence as a world leader in global health while adhering to evidence-based science and economics, measurement and accountability.

Specifically, in this report, the committee focuses on the detection and management of cardiovascular disease and offers a roadmap for achieving better outcomes in preventing and treating heart disease, including through screening, accelerated drug development, digital health and smart financing strategies.